Where Dustbunnies Go To Die

I promised some more stuff about SFX, but to be honest, what I had to post about wasn't so much about the con itself, as something unrelated to the con itself which just happened to take place there.

Okay, that's not quite true, but the following does lead up to it...

In elizard100's LJ, bnddbl07 commented that SFX seems to have a distinct problem with communication. In particular, they're not big on putting up clear, easy-to-follow signage. The way they organized the autograph area this year, the tables were about 30-40 feet from the western wall of the convention centre, and people lined up behind the curtains that were just behind where the actors were sitting. It worked very well insofar as organizing the autograph lines was concerned (last year, I believe Julie Benz's and Robia LaMorte's lines intersected, and it was a complete Mongolian clusterfuck), though I suspect it was a minor contributor to the aisles feeling narrower than in past years. However, once you were back there, you had to know which line you wanted to get into because there was no signage to tell people which line was which. It was easy for Kevin Sorbo, both because he was at one end and because his line was easily one of the longest, but when I went to get Tim Russ' and Marina Sirtis' autographs, I had to peek around the corner to make sure that I wasn't lining up for Erica Durance or Margot Kidder instead.

Further to this (and folks involved with the Masquerade need not read this paragraph, because you already know about my complaint in this area, but I'm mentioning it in leading up to that something else I alluded to above), the Masquerade Registration desk is usually in the main lobby of the convention centre at street level. In past years, people have just lined up outside the theatre and filed in until all of the seats were full. This year, it was decided to issue tickets for the Masquerade instead. Now, the tickets were free, so that wasn't an issue - what I objected to was the signage. Apparently it was mentioned on the website and in the programme book, but for those of us who attend every year and think they know what to expect, is it so much of a stretch to think that we might not have seen those notices? And that the 8.5" x 11" sign on the Registration desk might not have been visible because the desk was constantly surrounded by dozens of people registering (or, as it turned out, getting tickets)? Would it have been so hard to print a LARGE sign and post it on the draping behind the desk so that people who were walking past, ten feet away, not knowing that they should have gone over to the desk, would know about the change in policy?

Okay, rant over... anyhow, I went downstairs to where people were lined up on the off-chance that I might bump into someone I knew (and I've since been told that had I thought to ask for a certain someone, they would have given me a ticket from their stash... ah, well), and I bumped into Krikor and Lori... these were a couple of the folks who helped out with the Gaylaxicon float in the Pride parade this year. (Remember them?)

So Lori says to me, "I need your contact information." My first thought was, "Why? You stalked me for a year in the hopes of converting me," (which seems to be a habit with her... she did it to cuteteenboy too) but I didn't say that. Krikor helpfully mentioned that he had it and could give it to her. I asked why, and she said, "Josh wants your phone number." (Remember Josh? The "straight" boy I was flirting with on Pride weekend who said I was hot/sexy?)

Oy. Okay, I thought he was cute. I probably would've had a roll in the hay with him had he been up for it at the time. So to speak. However, there are a couple of problems here:

1. I'm now sober.


2. I was in university when he was born.


3. I can't afford to keep a 20-year-old in the style to which he would like to become accustomed.


4. Damnit, I'm still kind of interested in the other guy I've been chasing, and haven't had an opportunity to um... explain to him that I actually meant it when I told him I found him attractive.


5. He's supposed to be insane, at least according to other people who know him. Whatever that means.

I really must get together with cuteteenboy and ask him why, exactly, he dislikes Josh so much and thinks that there's something wrong with him. Unless one of the rest of you who were there that night in Tim Horton's when he walked in and you all ran out, leaving me confused, can explain?

In other news... I still haven't heard anything regarding the job that I interviewed for last week. I called on Monday, but the woman in HR with whom I had spoken didn't know whether a decision had been made yet or not. I'll call again tomorrow.

Two days from now, I'll be in Atlanta... I'm looking forward to this. It should be fun. So, evil_admiral, when are you going to be there, exactly? I can send you my schedule once I have it nailed down. (Oh, wananga, are you involved at all with the Outworlders table? I emailed Michael Henigan three weeks ago, as well as the general Outworlders address, but never heard back. I emailed again tonight. I'm trying to find out if I can put some flyers for Gcon '06 out on the table; I'm also willing to put in some time there, if I can sell memberships.)

I really should have made this entry yesterday, but I had a pounding headache that actually started around 3am and lasted until about 9pm. Lovely way to go through a job interview.

Speaking of which... I had my interview with Dominion of Canada yesterday afternoon. It didn't go too badly, I don't think - the technical guy seemed to like me, and actually knew someone I used to work with at Manulife who liked me as well. Small world. When he said he was going to ask me some technical questions, I admitted that I was likely a bit rusty, but he just grinned and said that he understood, since he knew that I've been out of work for several months. I think I got them all right. I didn't have any moments where I was thinking "oh shit, what's that?"

The manager was a little more standoffish, but that may just have been his personality.

It's really hard to judge because I was feeling so crappy, though. Some interviews I've had in the past, I've come out feeling like I aced it. This one, I just wanted to swallow a bottle of Tylenol.

I think it was a tension headache, because I still have pain in my back and shoulders. The muscles have relaxed, but I guess I was so tense that I pulled something.

Anyway, they said they'd let me know on Friday... *fingers crossed*

I had a moment of discomfort afterwards. I decided to walk through the underground up to the Eaton Centre to stop in and say hi to assetic (I looked, but didn't see you - were you not working yesterday? It was around 3:15), but when I got to First Canadian Place, I had to go to the bathroom rather badly as a result of the coffee I'd had on my way downtown. It being a couple of years since I worked in that area, however, I had forgotten that that particular bathroom is... um... rather notorious. While drying my hands, I became aware that I was being observed by a guy who was at one of the other urinals. He followed me out and when I got to the Sheraton, he tried to get me to go into the bathroom there with him. No thanks. Ugh. Ick. I'm not that desperate. (Besides, the guy that tried to pick me up on Yonge Street a few weeks ago was much cuter. If I hadn't gone with him, why would I go with this guy? Ick.)

Let's see... I got home and was laying down, trying to get rid of the headache, when the phone rang around 8. It was another headhunter who had seen my resume online and wanted to know if I was available for a contract position. When I found out where it was, I told him I was not looking to move at this time, especially for a contract that would only be lasting about six months. He then asked if I'd be willing to commute. Sorry, but I'm not going to commute to Winnipeg. (Hate to disappoint you, eastman23. :P )

Last night was the deadline for Toronto Trek reports, so I spent some time doing that as well. I also downloaded and read through 70 other reports, which is why I didn't post all of this stuff yesterday. It took until about 5 in the morning to read all that... I should have been reading them a few at a time over the past few weeks, but there was a problem a couple of weeks ago with the server and I hadn't gotten around to actually going back and trying again.

Today... I got a call from the headhunter regarding the other interview, with Honda. It was originally supposed to be today, and then it got rescheduled to Friday, and today she called to tell me that they had decided to change their project timeline so that they wouldn't need to hire extra people, so it's been cancelled outright. Feh.

Tonight, I got two calls regarding a contract in New Jersey. (I'm assuming they were for the same contract.) Okay, I guess I have to update my profile to indicate that I only want to work in the Toronto area (and preferably somewhere served by the TTC).

In other news: John Leeson signs on for Doctor Who season two

And tagged by ozreison:
This is a game of tag. You have to answer the questions below and then TAG six of your friends. You are offered three sets of questions. You can choose any set of questions that you want to answer. Then tag six of your friends.

Set one

List 3 things that bug you that others may find trivial:
1) Drivers who don't notice that I'm crossing the street and cut in front of me.
2) People who clearly want to be overheard/eavesdropped on who are discussing things I have no interest in.
3) The price of ice cream.

Set two
List 3 things that make Chocolate better:
1) Ice cream. :)
2) Hot fudge.
3) More chocolate. Okay, okay... um... oranges. Seriously. I had this awesome orange and nutmeg chocolate at the Chocolate Symposium at Gaylaxicon.

Set three
List 3 things that you'd rather be doing than playing a game of LJ tag
1) Reading.
2) Sleeping.
3) Having sex. (Yes, I went there! :P )

I'm looking forward to SFX this weekend. Heck, I always look forward to spending time with my fellow fans. I succumbed to the temptation and bought a ticket to see Elijah Wood. I'm not really interested in most of the rest (though I may splurge on Tim Russ' and Kevin Sorbo's autographs), and I'm going to be working for TT while I'm there as well. Hopefully we'll sell lots of memberships - especially if we manage to get a signed contract back from our newest guest (there's a good chance). And no, for those of you who are curious, I can't say anything yet. You'll just have to come by the table. :P